My Favorite Book Romances

Hi guys. As it'll be Valentine's Day soon, today I thought I would share with you my favorite literary romances. Now I don't read lots of romance books as a rule but I do enjoy romance in my books when it's really well done. So, no insta-love for me please, just no! 

Since I'm focusing on the love aspect of the book and the couples featuring in it, I won't be going too much in details about the plot. You can find out more about the books though by clicking on the book titles, which will take you to each book's Goodreads page. Also, this post is absolutely spoiler-free.

Eleanor and Park 

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These characters are from the book by the same name by Rainbow Rowell. Eleanor is plump, has unruly curly red hair and wears horribly mismatched clothes and due to a little bit of all those things, she's a popular target for school bullies. Park is a half-Asian kid who's trying to play it cool by coming to school dressed mostly in black and likes to keep to himself on the school bus, his headphones on. These two couldn't be more different and yet, after discovering a shared love for comics and music, they slowly become friends. As the story unfolds, this unlikely friendship eventually grows into the sincerest of young loves. If you love YA novels and are tired of popular tropes and clichés, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It's unique and simply beautiful. 

Percy and Annabeth 

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This couple appears in two series (so far) by Rick Riordan, including the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus series. In the beginning of the first series, Percy and Annabeth are around 12 and we get but the slightest of hints that something could happen between these two one day. Then, as the books progress, we see their relationship go from a great friendship to a really sweet romance. What I love about their relationship is that while they care a lot for each other, they always value and trust each other's strengths. Percy knows his girl can take care of herself. Likewise, while Annabeth and Percy are strong enough on their own, they also operate really well as a pair, as can be seen in the various action scenes throughout the books. They respect each other's capabilities as much as they love each other and that is something we need to see more among YA couples. Totally giving you the side-eye Edward...

Cath and Levi

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It seems that Rainbow Rowell really gets young love! Cath and Levi appear in her much beloved book, Fangirl. Cath has just started uni and being super shy, she's having a hard time navigating her new environment. Eventually though, she starts to meet new people and one of them is Levi. I feel that to tell you more about their relationship would spoil the book a little for you so I'm just going to suggest you check out Fangirl and see what I mean for yourself. Their story is very down to earth and super relatable. In fact, when I first read the book, I was surprised by how down to earth is was. Rowell doesn't sugar coat their romance at all. And yet, despite that, it does shine out as one of the sweetest book romances I've ever read. 

Tiger Lily and Peter Pan

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Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair... Aw, I love this line <3 

Here I'm actually talking about the characters from the Peter Pan retelling by Jodi Lynn Anderson called Tiger Lily, so calm down Wendy purists XD In Tiger Lily, we're offered a completely different take on the original Peter Pan story. Tiger Lily is the daughter of her tribe's shaman. She's an accomplished hunter and considered as being very different even by the other tribe members. Peter Pan is known among them as one of the most dangerous beings in Neverland. And yet, one day, as Tiger Lily's and Peter's paths cross, what ensues is a really poignant romance as it is very rarely depicted in YA fiction. After finishing the book, all I wanted to do was read it all over again because it was simply beautiful. If you want to know more about the actual plot and my thoughts about the book, check out my non-spoilery review of Tiger Lily here. 

So those were some of my favorite book romances. What book romance makes you swoon? Let me know in the comment ^^

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Cover art by Of Stacks and Cups via Pagemodo